Life with God: A Renovaré Podcast

Robert Fryling — Shaping How We Lead by Who We Are

May 15, 2017 00:00 - 32 minutes - 15.2 MB

Nathan talks with Bob Fryling, author and former publisher of InterVarsity Press, about how to find a truly authentic, integrated way to lead—from both our internal relationship with God and our external relationship with others.

Richard Foster — How You Gave For Richard's Birthday

May 08, 2017 00:00 - 30 minutes - 14.2 MB

For his 75th birthday Richard Foster asked the Renovaré community to consider giving $75 to someone in need or 75 minutes to someone lonely. In this episode Nate Foster shares with his dad stories of how you did it.

Richella Parham — Incarnation, Creativity, and the Divine Dance of the Trinity

May 01, 2017 00:00 - 35 minutes - 16.5 MB

Nathan talks again with writer and Renovaré Ministry team member Richella Parham, this time about the incarnation, creativity, and discovering the divine dance of the Trinity.

Chris Hall — Athanasius: Theological Street Fighter

April 24, 2017 00:00 - 40 minutes - 18.7 MB

Soon the Renovaré Book Club starts reading On the Incarnation by Saint Athanasius. The facilitator is Renovaré President Chris Hall who joins Nathan this week to talk about Athanasius, a "theological street fighter" who was exiled for standing for the full divinity of Jesus.

Robert Moore-Jumonville — Jogging with G.K. Chesterton

April 17, 2017 00:00 - 41 minutes - 19.2 MB

Robert Moore-Jumonville (affectionately known as MoJo) is professor of Christian Spirituality at Spring Arbor University, a Methodist pastor, and author of Jogging With G.K. Chesterton. He talks with Nathan about Chesterton's humor, humility and optimism.

Nathan and Richard Foster — Spiritual Disciplines Aren't The Point

April 03, 2017 00:00 - 40 minutes - 18.5 MB

At a recent Ordinary Saints Gathering Nathan sat down with his father Richard Foster to talk about spiritual disciplines. In this candid conversation we're reminded disciplines aren't the point but serve to bring body, mind and heart before God, who does in us more than we can ever do for ourselves.

Andrew Ranucci — Refreshed Church Leaders

March 27, 2017 00:00 - 24 minutes - 11.5 MB

Andrew Ranucci, pastor of Coast Community church in Australia, talks with Nathan Foster about his intentional use of retreats for the soul health of his church leaders and members.

Trevor Hudson — Holiness is Better Than You Think

March 20, 2017 00:00 - 30 minutes - 14.3 MB

Author and speaker Trevor Hudson joins Nathan again, this time to talk about a word that's become synonymous with legalism, self-righteousness and conformity: holiness. Trevor helps reclaim the word. It turns out that holiness means being fully alive and wonderfully unique in Christ.

Adele Calhoun — Coloring with God

March 13, 2017 00:00 - 28 minutes - 13.3 MB

Nathan talks with author and spiritual director Adele Calhoun about coloring as a spiritual discipline—she just released a grown-up coloring book called Coloring the Psalms—and how to engage God in icons and art.

Richard Foster — Turning 75: A Birthday Idea

March 06, 2017 00:00 - 30 minutes - 14.2 MB

In this episode Richard Foster shares his 75th birthday idea: What if you gave $75 to someone in need or 75 minutes to someone lonely? This fun experiment runs through April 25th. We'll collect your stories (call 1-844-RENEW88 to record yours) and share them in a future podcast.

Tish Harrison Warren — Liturgy of the Ordinary

February 27, 2017 00:00 - 37 minutes - 17.3 MB

Nathan talks with author and Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren about her book Liturgy of the Ordinary. Tish helps us see not simply that ordinary life matters but how it matters and how we can be found by God in the ordinary.

Chris Hall — Remembering Thomas Oden: New Doesn't Mean Better

February 20, 2017 00:00 - 48 minutes - 22.4 MB

Nathan Foster talks with Renovaré president Chris Hall about his recently passed friend, mentor and theologian Tom Oden. Chris also shares why ancient writings by the church fathers are more relevant than ever, and how C.S. Lewis defined an ignorant person.

Jan Johnson — Scripture Meditation

February 13, 2017 06:00 - 35 minutes - 16.5 MB

Author, retreat leader, and spiritual director Jan Johnson joins Nathan again to talk about the importance of meditating on scripture, how it differs from eastern meditation, and even slowly walks us through a passage in Luke. Music during meditation is Song of Prayer, provided by Chad Lawson - chadlawson.com.

Cindy Wu — Refugees

February 06, 2017 00:00 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MB

Cindy Wu, co-author of Our Global Families, lives in the most racially diverse county in America (in Houston). In this timely episode Cindy gently cuts through misconceptions about refugees and shares how caring for the stranger is easier and more rewarding than one might think.

Beth Allen Slevcove — Broken Hallelujahs

January 30, 2017 00:00 - 41 minutes - 19 MB

Beth Allen Slevcove is a spiritual director, retreat leader, writer, surfer and mother in San Diego, California. Nathan talks with her about learning to grieve, the topic of her book Broken Hallelujahs.

C. Chris Smith — Slow

January 23, 2017 00:00 - 43 minutes - 20.2 MB

Chris Smith is editor of The Englewood Review of Books, and a member of Englewood Christian Church, a church which helped spark Chris' book Slow Church. Nathan chats with him about living and reading slower and more intentionally.

Charles Ayars — St. John of the Cross

January 16, 2017 00:00 - 34 minutes - 16.1 MB

Nathan talks with Charles Ayars, a spiritual director who works with the Renovaré Institute, about the life and poetry of St. John of the Cross.

Deirdre LaNoue — The Spiritual Legacy of Henri Nouwen

January 09, 2017 00:00 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MB

Deirdre LaNoue's doctoral dissertation became the book The Spiritual Legacy Of Henri Nouwen. Nathan Foster talks with her about Henri's life, and his book Life of the Beloved which Deirdre facilitates in this year's Renovaré Book Club. (Join at renovare.org/bookclub).

Mary Russell — Bible Reading Insights at 92

January 02, 2017 00:00 - 21 minutes - 10 MB

Nathan Foster kicks off 2017 by interviewing long-time Renovaré supporter Mary Russell, 92, who shares her rhythms of reading Scripture and how she listens to God. Life With God Bible resources mentioned in podcast are available at renovare.org/bible.

Carolyn Arends — Christmas Songs

December 19, 2016 00:00 - 23 minutes - 21.9 MB

For nearly each one of the last 25 years Carolyn Arends, Renovaré's Director of Education, has written a new Christmas song. In this episode, the last of the year, Nathan plays us three of those songs and talks with Carolyn to get the stories behind them.

Joe Davis — Exploring Mid-Faith Crisis

December 12, 2016 00:00 - 29 minutes - 13.7 MB

Joe Davis is a minister, speaker, celebrant, Renovaré Institute grad, and part of the Renovaré UK leadership team. He talks with Nathan about his work and what it means to go through a "mid-faith crisis."

James Catford — Healing Prayer Part 2

December 05, 2016 00:00 - 37 minutes - 17.3 MB

James Catford joins Nathan for part two discussing Bill Vaswig and healing prayer. This time they dive into more specifics about prayer and why heart posture matters more than a perfect process.

James Catford — Healing Prayer Part 1

November 28, 2016 00:00 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MB

This week Renovaré releases interviews with the late Bill Vaswig, a Lutheran minister and long-time Renovaré ministry team member who focused on healing prayer. James Catford, a Renovaré board member and close friend of Bill, talks with Nathan to give us a glimpse into Bill's life and ministry.

Chris Hall — The Trinitarian Nature of Spiritual Formation

November 21, 2016 00:00 - 42 minutes - 19.6 MB

"Spiritual formation is intensely relational." This week Chris Hall helps us understand how we become "ever more human as we become ever more like God." Taken from a recent Renovaré Making Ordinary Saints Gathering in Paoli, PA.

Steve Macchia — An Invitation to a Well-Ordered Way

November 14, 2016 00:00 - 32 minutes - 15 MB

Steve Macchia, founder of Leadership Transformations, joins Nathan again, this time to discuss his book Crafting a Rule of Life: An Invitation to a Well-Ordered Way. Steve shares why a rule of life is about freedom not restriction, and how to write one of your own.

Steve Fawver — Thirty Days at a Trappist Monastery

November 07, 2016 00:00 - 43 minutes - 20.2 MB

Steve Fawver, pastor of Spiritual Health & Care at Newberg Friends Church in Oregon, talks with Nathan about the value of retreats and reflects on a recent 30 day stay at a Trappist monastery.

Richard Foster & Chris Hall — What Makes God Smile, Capitalism, and Other Listener Q&A

October 31, 2016 00:00 - 37 minutes - 17.3 MB

Nathan asks Richard Foster and Chris Hall listener questions ranging from what kind of conversation makes God smile to what spiritual formation has to say about capitalism and who to vote for.

J. Brent Bill — Bad Quaker

October 24, 2016 10:00 - 28 minutes - 13.3 MB

Author Brent Bill talks with Nathan about his new book Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker: A Humble Stumble Toward Simplicity and Grace.

Dallas Willard — The Role of Faith in Prayer

October 17, 2016 00:00 - 53 minutes - 24.5 MB

This week we unearth a gem from the archives—Dallas Willard at Azusa Pacific University giving a potent teaching on prayer.

Richard Foster & Charles Moore — Mere Spirituality: A Conversation at Bruderhof

October 10, 2016 00:00 - 38 minutes - 17.9 MB

During a recent visit to a Bruderhof community, Nathan and his father Richard Foster sit down with Charles E. Moore, a contributing editor and author for Plough Publishing House. The conversation flows from what is essential to a "mere spirituality" to the importance of a child-like heart.

Emily Alexander and Leslie Moore — Community Life at Bruderhof

October 03, 2016 00:00 - 21 minutes - 10.2 MB

Nathan visits a Bruderhof community in New York and talks with two of its members about what it's like to live in a Christian community that shares all its possessions.

Jan Johnson — Meeting God in Scripture

September 26, 2016 00:00 - 22 minutes - 10.3 MB

Author, retreat leader, and spiritual director Jan Johnson talks with Nathan about the importance of both studying and meditating on Scripture, and her new book Meeting God in Scripture.

Steve Macchia — More Beautiful Having Been Broken

September 19, 2016 00:00 - 32 minutes - 14.9 MB

Steve Macchia is founder of Leadership Transformations, an organization that focuses on spiritual formation for leaders. In this episode he talks with Nathan about his book Broken and Whole, and the freedom and beauty of being vulnerable.

Trevor Hudson — Friendship with God

September 12, 2016 00:00 - 30 minutes - 14.3 MB

Trevor Hudson is an author and speaker who teaches at the Renovaré Institute and internationally on spiritual formation. He joins Nathan to talk about life in South Africa, his new book Beyond Loneliness, and friendship with God. Trevor is facilitating his new book in this year's Renovaré Book Club which begins in October (more at renovare.org/bookclub).

Justine Olawsky — Renovaré Institute, Latin & G.K. Chesterton

September 05, 2016 00:00 - 17 minutes - 8.09 MB

Justine Olawsky is the voice you'll hear if you call Renovaré. In this episode Nathan helps us get to know her. Along the way we learn a bit about the Renovaré Institute, Latin, and G.K. Chesterton.

Carolyn Arends — The Spiritual Practice of Reading

August 29, 2016 00:00 - 25 minutes - 11.6 MB

Nathan talks with Carolyn Arends, Renovaré Director of Education, about how books shape us, different modes of reading, and the upcoming Renovaré Book Club. Learn more at renovare.org/bookclub

James Bryan Smith — God Narratives & Holistic Spiritual Formation

August 22, 2016 00:00 - 26 minutes - 12.4 MB

What we think about God determines how we approach life with God. James Bryan Smith, author and professor at Friends University, talks with Nathan Foster about those God-narratives and about how to approach spiritual formation holistically.

Christy Foster — Living with Chronic Pain

August 15, 2016 00:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MB

In this very personal episode, Nathan Foster interviews his wife Christy about life with God in the midst of chronic pain. They also talk about Christy's songs and Istra Blue, the band they play in together.

Lacy Borgo — Helping Children Enter Into Life With God

August 08, 2016 00:00 - 30 minutes - 13.8 MB

Author, teacher and spiritual director Lacy Borgo returns to talk with Nathan about her Life With God children's curriculum, and how parents, pastors and teachers can make room for children to deepen friendship with God. Learn more at gooddirtministries.org

Kent Carlson & Mike Lueken — Renovation of the Church

August 01, 2016 00:00 - 42 minutes - 19.6 MB

What happens when a seeker sensitive church embraces spiritual formation? In this episode Nathan talks with Kent Carlson and Mike Lueken, co-pastors who took their church through that transition and wrote a book about the process.

Donn Thomas — Hip-Hop Culture and the Psalms of Disorientation

July 18, 2016 00:00 - 28 minutes - 12.9 MB

Donn Thomas is an African American songwriter, theologian, professor, worship leader and long-time Renovaré ministry team member. Nathan talks with him about the similarities between the Psalms and hip-hop culture, and how to lovingly discuss race-related topics.

Giff Reed — Local Church Flowing in the Streams

July 11, 2016 00:00 - 26 minutes - 12.3 MB

What does it look like for a local church to intentionally participate in all the streams that Jesus flowed in? Nathan's search for such a church turned up Red Door Church in Bloomington, Indiana. Giff Reed, a pastor at Red Door, is this week's guest.

Life with God: A Renovaré Podcast

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